Item B-2 "recurrent distressing dreams of the event" is a single item from the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale. The rating consists of two parts: Frequency and Intensity. Symptom frequency rated 0 to 4. Symptom intensity rated 0 to 4. Frequency plus Intensity ratings equal the total score. A higher score is worse; a lower score is better. This outcome measure evaluates the change in score from Baseline to Week 15.

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index is a self-report questionnaire assessing sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month time interval. A global score is obtained by summing the seven component subscales (total score range: 0-21). A score of 5 or less indicates good sleep quality. A score of more than 5 indicates poor sleep quality. Change is measured from Baseline to Week 15.

The Clinical Global Impression of Change is a 7-point scale that rates global change compared to baseline (1=markedly improved, 2=moderately improved, 3=minimally improved, 4=no change, 5=minimally worse, 6=moderately worse, 7=markedly worse). The CGIC is used to determine the impact of treat effects on meaningful and distinct change in overall sense of well-being and functioning. This outcome measures the proportion of responders who were rated markedly or moderately improved at Week 15 compared to Baseline.

Subject will be titrated up to the optimum tolerated dose based on the Dosing Algorithm. Males and females will be titrated differently with females titrated slower and to a lower maximum daily dose.

Drug: prazosin hydrochloride

Subject will be titrated up to the optimum tolerated dose based on the Dosing Algorithm. Males and females will be titrated differently with females titrated slower and to a lower maximum daily dose. The first dose will be taken while the participant is in bed for the night to avoid orthostatic syncope, an uncommon but recognized "first dose" effect of prazosin or any alpha-1 antagonist if started at a high dose. The first dose effect is avoidable by starting treatment with a low dose (1 mg at bedtime) then titrating the dose upward gradually.

Other Names:

prazosin

Pfizer Minipress

Placebo Comparator: placebo

placebo

oral capsules

Subject will be titrated up to the optimum tolerated dose based on the Dosing Algorithm. Males and females will be titrated differently with females titrated slower and to a lower maximum daily dose.

Drug: placebo

placebo

Other Name: sugar pill

Detailed Description:

This is a 15-week randomized parallel design, double-blind, placebo-controlled augmentation trial of prazosin to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of prazosin augmentation in the treatment of PTSD trauma-related nightmares, sleep disturbance, global function and sense of well-being, and other clinical features and comorbidities of PTSD. Participants will be 210 OIF/OEF soldiers and veterans who have suffered war zone trauma. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to prazosin or placebo and all previous psychotropic medications and/or psychotherapy will be maintained constant. Randomization will be stratified by site and use of an antidepressant.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years and older

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Age >18 years;

Clear evidence of exposure to one or more war zone trauma events sufficient to satisfy DSM-IV criterion A1 for diagnosis of PTSD;

stable dose of non-exclusionary medications and psychotherapeutic treatment for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization;

good general medical health.

Female participants must agree to use a reliable form of birth control during the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Psychiatric/Behavioral - meets DSM-IV criteria for current schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, psychotic disorder, delirium, or any DSM-IV cognitive disorder; substance dependence disorder within 3 months or any current substance dependence; current cocaine or stimulant abuse; severe psychiatric instability or severe situational life crises, including evidence of being actively suicidal or homicidal, or any behavior which poses an immediate danger to patient or others.

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00990106